ESPN

Mark Garrow

  (12:55 PM)

Good afternoon everyone...time to roll up the sleeves and get to answering your questions...so let's get this partaaayyy started!

Colin North Carolina

WOW Jimmie Johnson is amazing and has the biggest margin ever between him and Carl Edwards, do you think Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, or Jeff Gordon has any chance to Catch him or is he totally got this in his bag?

Mark Garrow

  (12:59 PM)

Amazing is the right word..the man was "toast" twice yesterday at Atlanta but somehow got back on the lead lap and then gutty call by his crew chief Chad Knaus allowed them to come all the way back to second..That is amazing...It's over now..All Johnson has to do is average a ninth place finish over the final three races to clinch and his worst finish in this year's first seven Chase races is ninth..and with two wins and now two runner-up finishes his average finish those seven races is a ridiculous 3.7...In the immortal words of MC Hammer..."You can't touch this"...It's unbelievable that the guy fifth in the points, Kevin Harvick, is 307 behind..and with fourth place Jeff Burton minus 218..that means 9 of the 12 drivers at least 200 back...that has never happened at this stage of the Chase before..I hope you're a Johnson fan because now you can enjoy the coronation parade that is the final three Cup races of 2008.

Mel (Houston)

First:Jimmie Johnson needs to score only 135 points per race to win the title. No matter what Edwards or Biffle does in the remaining races.Secondly:Jack Roush is asking NASCAR to toss out a driver's worst finish, only scoring the best 9 out of the 10 Chase races. Any chance of that happening this season?

Mark Garrow

  (1:02 PM)

Sorry Mel, but no chance...That wouldn't even be a good way in my opinion to fix the Chase...I like the idea of a playoff and liked the idea of the Chase from the very beginning...But it clearly needs to be tweaked in my opinion and something needs to be brought into the mix to make it a real playoff and you can't do that without eliminating drivers at some point..

ray gordon reid dallas75205

QUESTION to mark at 1.10 pm HI MARK COULD SUNDAY BE WHEN JJ WINS CHAMPIONSHIP

Mark Garrow

  (1:04 PM)

Ray Gordon there is a chance he could clinch at Texas but it's pretty remote unless something really bad happens to Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Jeff Burton..Jimmie's plus 183 on his nearest pursuor now and needs to leave Texas up by 381 I believe to clinch..I can see him clinching at Phoenix or be in a situation that all he needs to do is take the green flag at Homestead and a recording tying third consecutive championship is his..

marion (texas)

what is the chance that fsu and psu meet in a bcs bowl game?

Mark Garrow

  (1:05 PM)

Not my place of expertise Marion...but I will say PSU has got a shot..FSU doesn't...PSU can do undefeated, but Florida State will surely lose again.

Keren (Maui)

Is or does Chad Knaus hold crew chief training sessions in house at HMS? Sure looks like the other crew chiefs could learn a lot from him.

Mark Garrow

  (1:08 PM)

Hope things are nice out in your part of the world today...I could use a little "beach time"...but you're right Chad Knaus is on the top of his game and he should in the off-season hold master degree classes for his fellow crew chiefs because he has the midas touch...I'd hate to be playing this guy in poker wouldn't you?..lol... Part of his success though falls to Jimmie Johnson..I was broadcasting the race yesterday and if he doesn't drive his lungs out over the final eight laps gamble doesn't work either..Great combo.

justin (durham nc)

so with scott riggs waiting on sposers to decide ..hes cosen his team ...ne ideas of where thast team is ....41 15 or what..ur thoughts

Mark Garrow

  (1:09 PM)

I think he's got the inside track on the 41..for whatever reason my sources are telling me Ganassi doesn't really like A.J. Allmendinger and he's done outstanding job last two weeks for Gillette Evernham.

dan san antonio texas

do you think paul menard will be better at yates next year.

Mark Garrow

  (1:11 PM)

Hard to say Dan...If Roush puts a lot of support behind the program he should be better..I also think it needs to be remembered Paul Menard wasn't very experienced before reaching this level of NASCAR racing so he's learning and getting better all the time..His equipment at DEI has been pretty good lately...and results have been a little spotty..I think it's fair to say we really don't know yet whether Paul can cut it or not...Should begin to be able to, though, next season.

Frank (Colorado)

How remarkably consistent has JJ been in his career? I heard he has never finished out of the top 10 in points in any season he's been in the Cup series. That true? If so, that's amazing!

Mark Garrow

  (1:15 PM)

Frank, JJ began running the Sprint Cup Series full-time in 2002 and since then his points finishes are as follows: 5,2,2,5,1,1.....Yeah, that's amazing..Here's some more amazing stats..He's finished top-10 in 12 straight chase races..with six wins..with nine top-five and no finish worse than ninth.,

Black Flagged Online, Washington D.C.

Do you think the qualifying rain outs secretly make the go or go home drivers happy that they can leave the track early?

Mark Garrow

  (1:16 PM)

Absolutely not...this guys are fighting in most cases to keep teams alive and keep food on the table..If they're going to fail they want to go down pulling the trigger until there isn't a bullet yet..

Ryan L (Toms River NJ)

How do you think Jimmie Johnson will do in the upcoming race?

Mark Garrow

  (1:17 PM)

There's no weak tracks, if really has any at all..I thought Atlanta would pose a problem or two for him and it did...but he always it seems runs better at Texas...He'll challenge for win and top-five this Sunday.

Dave (Denver)

A Junior question. He starts off strong and then falls off during the race. Yet Senior had it the other way around. Is it due to the communication during the race that is the problem for Junior?

Mark Garrow

  (1:19 PM)

Not sure Dave. I talked with Tony Eury, Jr. about that last week at Martinsville...They are still trying to figure out what exactly's been going wrong at the end of the races..Rick Hendrick seems to believe, when you read his comments, that Junior has to communicate are little more precisely as to what he's feeling or thinks he needs in the closing stages of the race...but I think the "juniors" will be fine and have more success next season.

becka,va

will moving to gem make reed racing better

Mark Garrow

  (1:20 PM)

If you look at what Allmendinger has done in that car the last two weeks, it seems like the potential is there for Sorenson to run better...Way AJ has run the last two races will certainly put some pressure on Sorenson to up his game..hopefully it will all work out..

justin (durham nc)

thanks mark and by the way love thwe chats man...ur an asset to nascar

Mark Garrow

  (1:21 PM)

Thanks for the props...nice to get a pat on the back or backside every once in awhile..lol...

Black Flagged Online, Washington DC

Do you think male gymnasts envy Carl Edwards?

Mark Garrow

  (1:23 PM)

Good question..lol...He really stuck the landing at Atlanta..Stuck in the grass on inside of the start finish line like a lawn dart...Russian judge even gave him a 9.9..took a tenth off for the fist pump..

Keren (Maui)

Great weather out here, always. Is it communication due to being together for so long or is it that JJ has a stronger drive than both JG and Jr.? Which would surprise me a little. Can it be that JJ is that good at describing the car to Chad once the race starts?

Mark Garrow

  (1:25 PM)

I think communication is a big part of it..but Jimmie got "want to" ...He's really determined and he and Chad are really driven to succeed...I always thought Jeff Gordon was going to be able to equal Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty with seven titles...I don't see that happening anymore and with Chase format Johnson could possibly do it...When you listen to these guys talk during the race it's amazing how cool everything stats...that should be a lesson to all would be challengers.

dan san antonio texas

any news on a car number or color of car menard will drive next year.

Mark Garrow

  (1:26 PM)

Dan, It might be out there but I haven't seen it yet...it might depend on if Yates runs two or three cars..if two..somebody has to be let go..If that's the case no idea whether its Kvapil or Gilliland.

Dave (Denver)

Mark, thanks. I forgot to mention I have been to a few of the Bristol Spring Races some when Sr was alive. Jr does talk like his dad on the radio. ;)

Mark Garrow

  (1:27 PM)

You're right and it can get a little "colorful" .....as in the color blue...lol..

TG(PA)

I know Junior tends to yell at Tony Eury. Does he yell at his pit crew also and ever apologize to them after the race. I guess all the drivers must do this when they get frustrated about their car but it has to bring the whole team down.

Mark Garrow

  (1:28 PM)

TG ...not all the drivers get all that fired up..but probably the majority...they can, again, learn a lesson from Jimmy Johnson who never really talks to Chad or the team that way..On the other hand, you know Junior cares...cares a lot..

Jason (Seattle)

Do you think NASCAR should change the Lucky Dog somehow? At both 'Dega and Atlanta JJ fell a lap down and only got back on the lead lap because of the way that rule is. If he doesn't get those laps back things are a LOT different.

Mark Garrow

  (1:29 PM)

Jason, it's the same for everyone...I think by and large its been a good rule and has certainly helped out the safety of the drivers.

Black Flagged Online, Washington DC

haha, thanks for answering our questions!! great answers.

Mark Garrow

  (1:30 PM)

You're welcome..glad I can entertain you...but seriously folks take my wife....

Keren (Maui)

Yeah I heard from some friends that were at races, the in race conversations are all over the chart. From colorful to very business like.

Mark Garrow

  (1:31 PM)

That they are and Keren....just wanted you to know I'm jealous..I'm chatting in my dungeon and you're probably typing away under blue skies, a gentle breeze blowing through the veranda...waves rolling into the beach, splashing across the white sand....wow...I should write a romance novel..lol...

Mark Garrow

  (1:33 PM)

If you like my chats folks..please write to tell me what you like at tg2vt@aol.com..

Mark Garrow

  (1:34 PM)

Looks like that's it for today..don't forget I've got a fantasy chat (racing)..lol..on Wednesday at 4:00 and Sunday morning from Texas at 10:00...eastern times of course...Have a great day everyone...The Guru has left the building...